Gavin Miglio was a typical teenage boy until about three weeks after his 15th birthday August 2. He loved video games, days at the lake. Torturing his little sister in ever new and inventive ways just to show her how much he loved her. Then, before month’s end, he was sick. On Monday, after three potentials didn’t measure up, Gavin got his new heart.
Gavin grew up in Coeur d’Alene until his dad, Chris Fitzgerald, let a friend talk him into dreaming of how much easier life and earning a living would be in the rich oil fields of North Dakota about two years ago. The two men and stepmom Crystal moved east to Watford City.
It wasn’t what they’d hoped, but the family persevered. Celebrated Gavin’s 15th birthday. He’d been diagnosed years earlier with a heart murmur, a leaky valve, but neither slowed him. Cardiac issues were a possibility, never a concern.
They weren’t on anyone’s mind when Gavin fell ill August 22. Crystal was the first to notice something amiss. Normally a hearty eater, especially with sweets, she was taken aback when he refused his favorite cake, saying he was tired. He barely had the strength to get there.
Three trips to a doctor in Watford City, three times the verdict was pneumonia, different medicines prescribed. But on the third visit, tests showed his kidneys and liver were failing. He was taken by ambulance to a Fargo medical center, where it was determined in short order that the reason his kidneys and liver were failing was because they weren’t getting enough blood because his heart was failing.
Gavin was flown to a Minneapolis hospital where Gavin was admitted and fitted with a heart pump to buy him time. He was placed on the waiting list.
The family has only one car, so early on they made some hard decisions. Chris stayed with Gavin at a Minneapolis Ronald McDonald House while Crystal made the drive back to North Idaho, to her parents, John and Carol’s home in Boundary County. Now the family breadwinner, Crystal lives as frugally as she can, working at the Boundary Community Restorium as a combination activities director/personal services assistant, smiling, laughing and having fun, even on the morning when, more than 1,300 miles away, her husband paced while their son’s life and whatever future he may have rested in the hands of a skilled surgeon.
The first successful human heart transplant was performed by South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard December 3, 1967, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, 57 years ago. Unlike most great technological advances, such as moon landings and shuttle flights, where the miraculous becomes routine, in matters of broken hearts, what was a miracle then remains a miracle today, especially for those outside the operating theater.
The fabled bedside phone that a matching heart was on the way rang twice before at Gavin’s bedside — both times the donor heart, perfect in every other way, was a little too tall.
“I knew it was hard to find a matching donor heart,” Crystal said, “but had no idea height was a concern.”
Surgery was scheduled for 8 a.m. Central Tuesday. I was already up when Crystal stopped in my room well before 6 a.m., Pacific … 8 a.m. Central.
“You’re early,” I said. “Work to do!” she said. I’m not particularly observant, nor as empathetic as I wish I were, But a 5.7-scale tremor shook her attempt at a smile and the large droplets spilling from her eyes gave me pause … something, to myself I said, seems amiss.
At about the same time, she looked at my clock … just after 6 a.m. “My son should be in surgery for a new heart right now,” she said, slipping. Reserve breached, she quickly shared this story as she finished her work.
Then she did her best to dry her tears and pin on the requisite cheery smile before she moved on to the next room.
She came by on her rounds later in the morning. Chris had texted her that the initial indications were all good — Gavin’s new heart fit well, it was beating, holding rhythm. Gavin had color again.
She slipped again. “I should be there,” she whispered.
She and her family are doing their very best to stand together alone, not realizing yet that in Boundary County, their family is a building block of our community, and we stand together as one.
9B.News has established a GoFundMe account, “Help Warm Gavin’s New Heart,” with proceeds to go directly to Chris. Those who’d rather mail payments can make checks payable to Crystal Fitzgerald, c/o 9B.News, 6619 Kaniksu St., Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.
Once Gavin is able, probably around June, Crystal will drive back to Minneapolis and bring he and Chris home to Moyie Springs.